Board considers 3,053-acre Riverdale plan

By AMY MAY

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead County Planning Board will meet Wednesday to consider a neighborhood plan that has been in the works since 2004.

The Riverdale Neighborhood Plan covers 3,053 acres of largely agricultural land west of U.S. 93 between Clark Drive and the Flathead County Landfill.

The plan is bases on the premise that the area bordering Kalispell will likely experience continued major growth, moving from almost entirely agriculture to suburban and urban housing.

A few large landowners from the Riverdale area began crafting a plan in 2004. In 2006 the county commissioners put the plan on hold until the county's growth policy was developed.

Since its last draft, the plan area has been reduced by 800 acres, 500 of which were annexed into the city of Kalispell as a part of the Silverbrook development.

Riverdale currently has 37 residents living in nine households.

But according to the plan, by 2025 the neighborhood could have as many as 7,040 people, though the actual population will be influenced by utility availability, local demand for housing and Kalispell annexation practices.

The largest portion of land in the plan would be designated as residential-suburban, which would allow 1,641 acres to be subdivided into lots ranging from 2.5 to 5 acres.

Along the U.S. 93 corridor, 12 acres would be designated as neighborhood commercial to allow businesses such as gas stations and convenience stores.

Some 240 acres would remain open space under a designated conservation easement. There also would be 56 acres of park land.

At full build-out, the 3,053 acres of Riverdale could have 2,811 homes and around 7,040 residents.

In July the Planning Board held a public workshop to work through some issues with Riverdale residents.

According to resident presentations, at least 80 percent of the residents are in favor of the plan.

Gary Krueger identified himself as one of the few who did not support the plan. Krueger and a few others said they were concerned the plan would force them to change their current land uses to something with which they weren't comfortable.

Planning Director Jeff Harris explained: "The plan is based on current land uses."

Essentially, people can keep doing what they are doing on their land. Only if a landowner requests a zone change or a subdivision would the neighborhood plan be used to determine how the land could be used.

Since the public workshop, only a few minor changes have been made to the Riverdale plan.

Harris said language was added to encourage the creation of another east-west roadway.

A section also was added that outlines the transition from agriculture to suburban or urban land use. Harris also said the plan added more language that would encourage more infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer prior to development.

The Planning Board will take public comment on Riverdale prior to taking a vote. The board will pass its recommendation on to county commissioners for final action.

Wednesday's meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building at 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell.

Reporter Amy May can be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at amay@dailyinterlake.com